Average Monthly Food Budget

[loulou3305]

I have a family of 4 (me, husband, tween and one year old). My bi-weekly budget for grocers is $110.

Sometimes, I am under this, sometimes I am over this. Is it reasonable to think i can trim this budget even further?

I have not really couponed my grocery items, i usually shop at walmart, but i would like to shop more at my dillon's and aldi...because they have more of a selection. This is strictly food!

Toiletries and such come from another budget column.

[thickbluebug]

Yes you can trim it.
Especially if you eat a lot of processed food like cereal, lipton rice sides, uncle bens, betty crocker potatoes. You can get some of those items free after rebates and nearly free with double and triple coupons and sales.
If you are big meat eaters start trading for winetags. You can save with those coupons - they are just hard to find.
I don't have triples in my area and few 30 minute away stores will double up to .50 - we use a lot of rebates for meat. Check out the gimme my money back forum for rebate offers.

[emotley]

That is about what I spend as well for my family of four. I am sure I could get it down a little more, but its a far cry from my 600.00 a month before finding this site...

[skyyblonde]

My sister and I were just talking about this. She really needs to get on a budget with her groceries.

I have a budget of $150.00 - bi weekly. I do also include trips to the drugstores with this. So i dont go often to CVS, like i was. But I have definitly been saving money.

[kimmeebee]

I spend at least that much and there are only three of us. I include toiletries, cleaning supplies, pet food, etc. in my budget though.

If I were you, I'd stick with that budget and build a stockpile. I've found that I am still spending the same amount, but getting at least twice as much for the price. It means I can skip a week here or there when the deals aren't great or I'm low on funds. I figure this winter I'll be able to buy all my baking ingredients without going over budget, for example. And I'll be able to throw one heck of a holiday open house with all this free sausage! LOL

[ostatecoupongal]

Originally Posted by kimmeebee I spend at least that much and there are only three of us. I include toiletries, cleaning supplies, pet food, etc. in my budget though. If I were you, I'd stick with that budget and build a stockpile. I've found that I am still spending the same amount, but getting at least twice as much for the price. It means I can skip a week here or there when the deals aren't great or I'm low on funds. I figure this winter I'll be able to buy all my baking ingredients without going over budget, for example. And I'll be able to throw one heck of a holiday open house with all this free sausage! LOL

I agree! Stockpile when you can....I was sick for about a week and a 1/2 and it was great to not have to go to the store and to know we were well taken care of in the "what's to eat?" department :)

[mfaust]

Before finding this site I was spending approx 100-150 a week. I am now down to an average of $50 a week thanks to everything I have learned here. $50/week includes toiletries, diapers, baby food, food. We eat a LOT of fresh food and meat, more and more of it organic, so I think we are doing great so far.

[scentednights2002]

We spend about $300/mo for a family of 4. That includes all products purchased in the grocery store. My daughter is lactose intolerant so that is a bit more expensive. I also prefer organic/all natural when I can do it. My son is sensitive to artificial colors. We have no triples at all. Our closest store doubles up to .99 (10 minutes away). The other store doubles up to $1 (1/2 hour away). I stock pile whenever I can.

[tracylynn01]

That's about what I am spending, and I'm trying to think of ways to cut it back as well!

[Mandy]

I'm at about $300 a month for everything you get a grocery store...diapers, etc. and that includes the "brand musts" that my husband insists on and his being in Iraq I let him have his wants.

the only wine tags I ever see are for $$ back or off of wine??